University of Pittsburgh Athletics
Pitt
Robert Morris
Softball Drops Two Games to Robert Morris
4/11/2002 12:00:00 AM | Softball
April 11, 2002
PITTSBURGH- The Panthers dropped two non-conference contests to crosstown rival Robert Morris on Thursday afternoon at Lind Field by scores of 6-2 in the first game and 5-4 in the second.
Robert Morris (19-15) jumped on the Panthers for four runs in the top of the first inning in game one, three of which were unearned off of starter Nikki Gasti (Carmichaels, Pa./Carmichaels). Pittsburgh (17-25) got one run back in the bottom half of the second inning on a solo home run by freshman Casey Pickard (Newhall, Calif./William S. Hart). It was Pickard's second home run of the year and 14th RBI of the 2002 season. She added her 15th run batted in in the next inning with a run-scoring single after the Colonials added two more runs in the top half of the inning.
Pickard was 2-for-3 with a run scored and the two RBIs and Gasti (8-13) went the distance for the Panthers, allowing eight hits and all six runs, but only two were earned. She did not issue a free pass and struck out seven Colonial batters. Pittsburgh had six hits in the contest with one each by Missy Smith (Clackamas, Ore./Clackamas), Heather Andrews (Zelienople, Pa./Riverside), Tiffany White (Carlsbad, Calif./Palomar C.C.) and Amy Steich (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville).
The Colonials got two quick runs in the top of the first off of Janelle Pepe (Connellsville, Pa./Connellsville) in the second game but Pittsburgh fought back with two runs in the bottom half of the inning to tie the game. After leadoff hitter Clare McCann (Wyckoff, N.J./Ramapo) drew a walk, she stole her third base of the year. With one out, Pickard walked and Kelly Hulpa (Washington, Pa./Trinity) reached on an error, scoring McCann. Andrews followed with an RBI single to plate Pickard with the tying run.
Pittsburgh took its only lead of the ballgame with a run in the bottom of the second inning after a walk to Angela Blackmon (San Diego, Calif./Palomar C.C.). She moved to second on a passed ball and with one out, scored on a single by Steich for the senior's fifth RBI of the season. Robert Morris tied the game in the third inning with two hits and a sacrifice fly.
Down 4-3 in the bottom of the fifth inning, Hulpa sent a pitch over the center field fence for her fourth homer of the year and 22nd RBI and tied the game in the process.
The Panthers couldn't regain the lead, however, and the Colonials scored the winning run on a bases loaded walk by Gina Bessolo (Lakewood, Calif./Lakewood) to Nora Borger. Bessolo (7-9) came on in relief of Pepe and pitched three innings, allowing four hits and the one run, walking two and striking out two.
Pittsburgh will host Syracuse in a Big East doubleheader on Saturday at Lind Field. The first game is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m.
